{"id":46693,"date":"2024-02-27T15:28:49","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T14:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1999147"},"modified":"2024-02-27T17:15:39","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T16:15:39","slug":"shogun-stars-on-achieving-authenticity-it-was-a-big-responsibility","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/shogun-stars-on-achieving-authenticity-it-was-a-big-responsibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Sh\u014dgun stars on achieving \u201cauthenticity\u201d: \u201cIt was a big responsibility\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The epic new drama is set in 1600s Japan. <\/p>

By Lidia Molina-Whyte\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 27 February 2024 at 14:28 PM<\/p>

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Hulu and FX\u2019s highly anticipated Japanese epic Sh\u014dgun<\/a> has finally landed on Disney Plus<\/a> in the UK.<\/p>\n

The series is adapted from James Clavell\u2019s 1975 novel of the same name<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Set in 1600s Japan, the series follows Hiroyuki Sanada\u2019s Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he struggles for complete power in the midst of a civil war and an uprising against his rulership.<\/p>\n

Speaking to RadioTimes.com<\/a>, Sanada opened up about how important it was for the project to have a sense of \u201cauthenticity\u201d when it came to representing Japanese culture.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was a great opportunity to introduce our culture and spirit to the world. That\u2019s why we try to make it authentic as much as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a great cooperation between the western and Japanese crew, together with the actors as well. It was a great experience for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Hiroyuki\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga in Sh\u014dgun.<\/span><\/figcaption> Colin Bentley\/FX<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Sanada, who western audiences will recognise from The Last Samurai, The Wolverine and John Wick: Chapter 4, is also a producer on the project, which was adapted by Top Gun: Maverick<\/a>\u2018s Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks.<\/p>\n

The actor revealed how having control behind the camera allowed him to infuse authenticity by hiring Japanese crew members.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cAs producer, I could hire a Japanese crew, the specialist for the samurai drama, experts for each department; wig, costume, props, master of gesture, the ceremony master,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a great team that was so helpful to create the authentic drama on set.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe preparations as a producer helped my role as an actor, as well. After preparing everything I was so comfortable and confident to stand in front of the camera. To just be there and stay in character and that\u2019s it, just simple and joyful, I really enjoyed that balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Cosmo\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne in Sh\u014dgun.<\/span><\/figcaption> Katie Yu\/FX<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Fellow Sh\u014dgun cast<\/a> member Cosmo Jarvis, who plays English pilot John Blackthorne, added: \u201cI was vaguely aware of the subject matter, and especially after understanding the amount of pride that was going into manifesting this world and the story.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a big responsibility, which was a great encouragement for everybody to try and do their best work, and so it was a challenge, but it was a good challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anna Sawai, who plays Toda Mariko, also stressed how important authenticity was during her initial talks with Marks and Kondo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was afraid of getting into my first conversion with Justin. He made it clear he wanted to do it with more authenticity, more accuracy, and he wanted to learn from Japanese people,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>

\u201cWhat I learned from him is that he is so confident in his work and able to just trust the Japanese people to guide him. I\u2019ve met a lot of people who are so precious about their work that they can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cJustin and Rachel were not like that at all, they wanted to learn and wanted us to tell them if anything was wrong, even if it was in the background.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just wanted to delegate to the Japanese consultant, and it was just mind-blowing to just watch them do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n